Board-cutting machine



Aug. 15, 1.939 T. T. YOUNGFELT Er AL BOARD CUTTING MACHINE 5*Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. l5, 1937 l H. Il

y msoaarsryouvarsn JOSEHI A. ESAL ALFH Fi.

Allg- 15, 1939 T. T. YQUNGFELT ET AL .2,169,575

BOARD' CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1937 I 5 sheets-'sheet 2 E n* *n:so I -r-: o u lHummmHummm"Hummmmmmmlummmiizlr a lT. T. YOUNGFELT ET ALBOARD CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. l5, 1937 .5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIlIIIIIII /N VENTO/e THEODOEE T YOUIVFELT JOSEPH A. @ESL um; u. ff a Afroze/VEP Aug. l5, 1939 T. T. YouNGFELT ET Al. 2,169,575

BOARD CUTTING MACHINE 'Filed Nov. 15, 1957 5 sheets-.sheet 4 BY I NE Y

TT'OR HE15, 1939 r T. T. YouNGFr-:LT er AL 2,169,575

' BOARD CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1937 i 5 sheets-sheet 5 IN VENTOR :weapons r Yauvqfsu- Josep# A. ses

lratented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE signors to UnitedStates Gypsum Company, Chicago, I ll., a corporation of IllinoisApplication November 15, 1937, 'serial No. 174,598

1n claims. e (01164-68) This invention relates to machines for cutting acontinuous stream of composition boardl into the desiredy lengths.

Irl the manufacture of composition boards, '5 such as those having agypsum composition core and paper cover sheets, it is customary to makethese boards in the form of a continuous strip which is cut oif intoindividual boards prior to passage through a drying kiln. In View of thefact that it is desirable to change board length from time tov time, itis important that mechanism be provided which will readily permit thischange in length.

'An object of this invention therefore, is to provide a practicalmachine for cutting composition board into. lengths.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the classdescribed which may be .readily adjusted to cut boards of differentlengths; also to improve board cutting machines in other respectshereinafter specifled'and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying, drawings forming apart ofthis specica'tion, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the boardcutting machine,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, Fig). 3 is atransverse sectionalelevation of the machine taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine taken online 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation through the machine takenonline 5-5 ofFig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the cutting machines,

Fig. 7 is an end view of a switch mechanism controlling the operation ofa cutting machine, Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation through a cuttingmachine taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 5, 40 Fig. 9 is a sectional plan viewof the driving mechanism for the cutting knives,

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the driving mechanism taken on lineIl-Il of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a side elevation on a large scale of the one revolutionclutch mechanism, and

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation through the clutch mechanism takenonline I2-I2 of Fig. 11.

The machine to be described is employed in cutting gypsum or othercomposition boards which usually are made in a continuous length of acore comprising mainly of gypsum, and paper coversheets facing eachsurface of the board. 'Ihe plastic composition is formed on the lowercover sheet, the edges of the lower cover sheetv are folded over, theupper cover sheet is applied by a master roll, and the core is allowedto set to solid condition on a continuous belt conveyor. When wall board32 or 48 inches wide is manufactured on the machine, it is customary tocut the continuous stream of board into lengths of 4, 5, 6, 7,. 8, 9,10, 11 and A12 feet. VWhen plaster board 16 inches wide is manufacturedon the machine, it is ordinarily cut into lengths of 32 or 48 inches.`Because of the short lengths of plaster boards produced, it is desirableto only completely cut cti every third board while intermediate boardshave the-cover sheets transversely perforated to be broken apartmanually after passing through the drying kiln. By following thispractice, the capacity of the drying kiln is not reduced as it would beif a multiplicity of small individual boards were conveyed through thedrying kiln. It is evident that a cutting and perforating machine mustbehighly flexible and amenable to quick changes and adjustments in orderto meet the variety of manufacturing conditions.

In order to accomplish the desired results, We have designed a cuttingand perforating machine comprising a pluralityof pairs of cutting orperforating knives, such as three in'number as illustrated. These pairsof knives maybe p0- sitioned at stations A, B and C (Fig. 1) and thedistance between the pairs' of knives can be. readily adjusted at willto produce boards of the desired lengths. Cutting or perforating knivesI5 and I6 are secured by bolts I1 to a knife holder I8 which ispreferably formed of forged steel and has its ends rounded to formtrunnions I9 which are rotatably mounted in bearings 20 and 2 I. Thebearings 2l are slidably mounted in vertical guides 22 and are providedwith adjusting screws 23 so that the distance between the knives I5 canbe accurately adjusted to accomplish a complete cutting oil.' of theboard, or merely the transverse perforation of the cover sheets of theboard.

Each of the knives I5 and li is provided with serrated edges 25 so thatif the knives are set for perforating, the teeth of .the knife edgeswill provide a row of transverse perforations in the cover sheets of theboard. Theadjustable bearings 2I at stations'B and C are adjustablymounted in the slides 22, being supported by compression springs 26 sothat the knives atthese stations can be adjusted for either perforatingor cutting o the'board, as desired. vBearings 21 at station A arerigidly mounted so that the knives at station A always are set forcutting 0i! the board` v In order to.accomplish the rotation of theknives,V ashaft24 -is continuously rotated by a source of power, such asan electric motor, not shown, said shaft leading into a gear box 24 andhaving a worm 44 secured to the end of said shaft inside the gear box24.

mounted on a knife shaft 42 and is rigidly connected to a clutch 44. Acollar 44 is slidably mounted on the knife shaft 42 and is provided:with a feather key so that said collar always rotates with the shaft42, but may be moved axially of said shaft. Toggle arms 44 connect thecollar 44,-to a clutch plate 44. A collar 44 is rotatably mounted on thecollar 44y and is connected by a pair of links 44 to a yoke '44 which ismounted on the shaft 42.` A compression spring 4| normally tends tourge'the yoke 44 to the right (Iilg'. 5), thus .tending to disengage theone revolution clutch 42.

It is desirable to have the knives I4 and I4' rotate through onerevolution when the composition board 44 has reached a predeterminedpoint so that its forward end strikes against a trip lever 44. 'I'helever 44 is pivotally mounted on a pin 44 and is providedA at itsopposite end with a cam surface 44 against which the electric switchroller 41 contacts so that when theL lever 44 ismoved in a clockwisedirection/(Fig. 7)', the roller 41 rides up on the cam surface 44 andcloses an electric switch inside of a switch box 44. An upper inletconduit 44 leads into the switch box 44 and a branch conduit 4| leads toa knife clutch' actuating mechanism to be hereo inafr described. `Theswitch box 44 is secured to a bracket. which is slidably mounted ona rod44 extending longitudinally of the machine above the path of travel ofthe boards 44. A series of pin holes 44 are formed in the upper side oftherod 44 and a lever 44 is pivotally moimted on bracket 44 by a pivotpin 41. 'Ihe lever 44 is provided at one end with a pin 44 engaging inone of the pinholes 44, compression spring I4 serving to maintain pin 44in enmounted at one end on a iixed pin 44 and is `provided with alatching point which engages behind a shoulder 44 formed on the arcuate`lever 44. An arcuate link 41 ispivotally connected at one end by a 'pin44 to the lever 44 and is pivotallyconnected at the other end by pin 14to a bell crank lever 1|. The lever 1| is pivotally mounted on a xed pin1 2 and is provided with a blfurcated lever arm 14 which en- I gagesagainst the yoke 44 so as to'move the yoke 44 to the left (Fig. 5l whenthe lever 1I is moved in a clockwise direction under the action of avspring 14 enclosed within a spring cylinder 14, the latter being securedat one end to a bracket 11. A stop member 14 of fiber or other-'suitablematerial tends to limit the clockwise movement of lever 1|. A roller 'I4is rotatably filtri-tiltedA on the lower part of lever 1| and is adaptedto engagea cam 44 which is rigidly mounted on the outer end of knifeshaft 42. Suitable ilat springs 4i and 42 areprovided adjacent levers 44and The worm 44 meshes with a worm gear 4| which is rotatably 44 so asto properly control the operation of said l levers. With the mechanismdescribed, when the o forward end of `the board, 44 actuates lever- 44,

the train of mechanism` heretofore described'will beset into motion andthe one revolution clutch will accomplish a single revolution of theknives I4 and I4, thus cutting oi'f or perforatlng the board.

One of the salient features of the invention consists in means forvarying the distance between the knives at stations A, B and C to enablethe operator to cut ot! boards of any desired length. For this purpose abearing carriage 44 supports thelknives I4 and I4 at stations B and C,said carriages being slidably mounted longitudinally of the machine onslide'plates 44. The plates 44 are rigidly secured to longitudinal eyebeams 44 which are suitably supportedv on foundation bases 41. AThreadedadjustingrods 44 arerotatably mounted in bearings 44, one end of eachrod 44 engaging in a thx'eaded'opening on a carriage 44 at stations Band C. A sprocket wheel 4| is mounted upon eachof the rods 44 and isAconnected by a chain 42 to a sprocket wheel -44 on a similar adjustingrod 44 at the opposite side of the machine. A hand wheel 44 is providedon each of the rods 44 so that upon the manual rotatiomof said ha`ndwheel 44, the two rods 44 and 44 rotate in unison so as to move thecarriage 44, backward or forward as the case may be, on the side plates44. While this mechanism described locates the knives Ilv and I4 fairlyaccurately at right angles` to the'board 44, nal adjustment can be madethrough the use of a hand wrench on a squared end 44 on the end of eachrod44.

The knife holders I4 are caused to rotate in unison by a pair of spurgears 44v and 44 which are secured to knife shafts or trunnions I4 and42 at all three stations A, B and C. In order to cause the rotation ofthe knives I4 and I4 at stations B and C, a bevel gear |44 is mounted ontrunnion I4 within a gear case |4|said gear |44 meshing with a beveledgear |42 which is rigidly secured on a sleeve |44.' The jaw clutch |44is also rigidly secured to the sleeve |44 and engages with a matingclutch plate |44 which is slidably mounted on a shaft |44 by means of afeather key which vpermits axial movementof said clutch plate |44. f

The knife driving arrangementl at stations B and C are substantiallyidentical, and a description of the driving mechanism at station B'willsumce also for the mechanism at station C. It will be noted that theknives at stations B and C are both mounted so 'as to be readily movedlonboards of different lengths. For this purpose a sleeve |44 is mountedon shaft |44 within a gear box |44, said gear box being provided withbearings ||4 for rotatably supporting said lshaft and `gitudinally ofthe machine to cut-off or perforate still permit movement of the gearbox |44 axially of said shaft I 44. 'Ihe sleeve |44 is provided withdiametrically'oppomte keys II| which engage in longitudinal key ways I2formed over a considerable distance .of the shaft |44. A beveled gear||4 is mounted on the sleeve |44 by a feather keywhich permits axialmovement of said beveled gear `II4 along the sleeve |44', but preventsany rotatingmovement of said gear relative to said sleeve |44. The gearI|4 meshes with a beveled gear I|4 which is mounted on the end of one ofthe yknife trunnions |4. A split collar ||4. isinterposed between thegear.||4

and one or the m so um ma soun 1s' can be readily removed and the gear||3 moved to the right (Fig. 2) to completely disengage one or both ofthe sets of knives at stations B and C, to cause said knives to becomeinoperative, long boards being cut-off completely by. the knives atstation -A.

In order to convey the boards 43 between the knives |5 and I6, weprovide a series of conveyor rollers ||0 which are mounted on rollershafts H3, the ends of which are rotatably received in bearing slots |20formed in the upstanding leg |2| of conveyor angles,` which are rigidlysupported on the framework of the machine. A sprocket pinion |22 isrigidly connected to the end of each` conveyor -roll H8, said sprocketwheels |22 meshing with a drive chain |23 which passes around sprocketwheel |24 andA around a power driven sprocket pinion, not shown. Thelower reach of chain |23 is supported on idler sprocket wheels |26. Thusthe rollers ||0 can be readily lifted from the bearing slots |20 to berelocated and provide clearance as the knives at stations B and C aremoved backward and forward to cut off boards of diierent lengths.Suitable fiat brushes |20 are rigidly supported adjacent the knives atstations B and C to contact with the serrated edges 25 of said knives,and vkeep said knives clean at all times. Round brushes |20 are 'xedlysupported adjacent the A knives at station A for the same purpose. brakedrum |32 is mounted on the trunnion I9 of the upper knife shaft atstations B and C, and a brake strap |3| passes around said brake drum|32, being pressed thereagainst by means of a suspended weight |33.' Thebrake strap |3| prevents backlash in the spur gears 98 and -39 when thedistance .between the knife shafts is slightly varied to eitherperforate or cut oiTy the board, thus causing the knives I5 and I6 'toaccurately register in making the cut.

In operation the stream of board 43 passes between the knives |5 and I6at stations A, B and C until the forward end of said board strikesj thetrip lever`44. This lever 44Ithen closes the switch 41 thus energizingthe electrical circuit 5|, solenoid 60, and actuating the one revolutionclutch 36 through the train of mechanism 6202. The actuation of the onerevolution clutch 36 causes the knives I5 and I6 at each of `thestations A, B and C to be rotated through one revolution and cut-off orperforate a board according to the setting of the knives, as determinedby the adjusting screws 23 on adjustable bearings 20. The carriages 84at stations B and C are adjusted longitudinally of the machine to cutoff boards of different lengths by means of threaded rods 94 rotatedthrough hand wheels 95 and connecting chains 02.' One or both of theknives at stationsB and C may be disconnected and made inoperative byremoving split collars ||6 and sliding the beveled gears |3 out of meshwith beveled gears l5 or'by disconnecting clutch plate |05. The rollers||8 for conveying the board 43`between theknives I5 and I6, are rotatedby means of a sprocket wheel |22l on one the, upper knives at stations Band C so as to cause the knives I5 and |6 to accurately register at thetime lof cutting or perforating without backlash in the'spur gears 90and 0.9.

' We would state in conclusion that while the details illustrated anddescribed constitute a practical embodiment of our invention, we do notwish to limit ourselves precisely to these details, since manifestly,the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

` H aving thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure vby Letters Patent:

1.v In. a board cutting machine, a series of pairs of rotary cuttingknives arranged in spaced relation, means for continuously moving astream of composition board between said knives, a carriage forrotatably supporting each pair of knives, and means for moving saidcarriages longitudinally of said board stream to vary the distancebetween the pairs of knives and thus cut off boards of varyingpredetermined length.

2. In a board cutting machine, a plurality of 'pairs of rotary cuttingknives arranged in spaced relation, means for continuously moving astream of composition board between said knives including a series ofremovable conveyor rollers, means f or varying the distance between saidpair ofl y means associated with eachv carriage arranged to move eachcarriage along said path and vary the distance between said pairs ofknives, and

conveyor means for moving a stream of boardbetween said knives to be cutto predetermined length.

4. In a board cutting machine, a seriesr of pairs of rotary cuttingknives arranged in spaced relation, meansfor continuously moving astream of cmposition board between said knives to be cut to '1ength, adrive shaft common to all of said knives and adapted to cause thesimultaneous rotation of said knives so as to cut said board topredetermined length, and clutch means on said shaft for disconnectingsome of said knives and thus'cut boards of longer lengths.

5. In a board cutting machine, a series of pairs of rotary cuttingknives arranged in spaced re-` lation, means for varying the distancebetween the pairs of knives, a plurality of conveyor rollers adapted toconvey 'a continuous stream of composition board between said knives, adrive chain having a reach thereof arranged to travr" adjacent saidrollers, and a sprocketiixedto each roller and engaging said drivechain, said rollers being removable for relocating to provide clearancefor said knives.

- 6. Ina board lcutting machine, a plurality of pairs of rotary cuttingknives arranged in spaced relation, means for continuously moving acontinuous stream of board between said knives, and

means actuated by a cut end of said board for causing Ithe simultaneousrotation of said pairs of knives through one revolution to cutandperforate said board.

7. In a board cutting machine, a series of pairs of cooperating cuttingknives, means for continuously 'moving a stream of composition.

tripmeans, adaptedto be actuated by 'a cut endoisaidboard'andactthroughsaidclutchand cause onerevolution of saidknives t'ovsever a board.

8.' In a board euttinglmachine, a plurality of pairs o'i' cutting knivesin spaced relation', meshing spur gears arranged to cause the rotationof each pair ot kni melansjlor varying the distance between sai knivestoperiorate theboard to a predetermined extent by changing the meshingcontacto! the teeth of'snid gears', and a brake associated with foneknife arran'ied to prevent backlash said knives.

9.In a board cutting machine, a plurlity oi pairsof cutting knives,means 'for :continuously conveying a' stream of composition board.be'

ummm'v 'pairs of rotary cutting knives in spaced relation.

means for varying the distance between said pairs oi' knives, so as tocut oil boards of pre# determined length, means actuated by the cut endof a board to cause the rotation o! said knives, and means for conveyinga continuousstream of board between said knives.

THEODORE T. YOUNGFELT. JOSEPH A. BESAL. RALPH H. HURD.

